Board hears overview of Leader in Me program, including costs and local adoption

District staff gave an informational briefing on the Leader in Me program (a Covey‑based framework derived from The 7 Habits) and explained how some Granville County Schools have adopted it and other schools have created similar programs without the paid affiliation.

A staff presenter summarized core program tenets — student leadership development, family and community partnerships, and curricular/behavioral elements tied to the 7 Habits — and said two schools joined through a state pilot that covered the first three years. Staff cited vendor figures for implementation costs: roughly $40–$50 per student for the initial three‑year implementation (with discounts for larger schools), ongoing annual costs of about $14–$19 per student, and district‑wide first‑three‑year vendor estimates in the millions if every school adopted the paid program. The presenter emphasized these figures came from the vendor website and were provided for information, not as an administrative recommendation.

Board members asked about independent third‑party research comparing character‑education programs; staff said most available studies are vendor‑provided and that rigorous third‑party comparative research is limited. Members emphasized that schools should choose programs that fit their community and asked staff to continue advising schools on grant opportunities and community buy‑in.

Why it matters: the briefing gave board members cost estimates and implementation constraints to help schools decide whether to adopt Leader in Me or a locally developed alternative.

What comes next: staff said grants support remain an option, district grants staff will assist schools seeking funding, and board members may consider pilot or school‑level proposals that include community consultation.